THERE is a proposal to separate the prescription and dispensing of medicine to doctors and pharmacists respectively.

What happens when a patient sees a doctor on a Sunday (or on a public holiday)?

If the patient lives in a rural area, it would be inconvenient for him to get his medicine from a pharmacy. The doctor can give him the medicine immediately.

If the doctor has no pharmacist, he has to engage one and is likely to pass the cost to the patient.

LEE KIM CHYE, George Town

Source: NST – April 30, 2008